Shim Sang-cheol (7th class, A1) triumphed in the Seoul Olympic 38th Anniversary Race, overcoming the disadvantages of starting from the 4th course.
According to the Korea Racing Authority, Shim crossed the finish line first in the final held on the 17th, showcasing bold maneuvers and experienced race management.
Lee Joo-young (3rd class, A1) finished in 2nd place, while Park Won-kyu (14th class, A1) secured 3rd.
The race determined its finalists through two preliminary rounds held the day before.
In the first preliminary round, Kim Wan-seok (10th class, A1) claimed 1st place from the 3rd course with a strong maneuver, while Shim and Park finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, to advance to the final.
In the second preliminary round, Kim Hyo-yeon (2nd class, A1) took 1st place from the 1st course, with Kim Do-hwi (13th class, A1) and Lee Joo-young finishing 2nd and 3rd to secure their spots in the final.
In the final, Kim Wan-seok was assigned the 1st course, Kim Hyo-yeon the 2nd, Kim Do-hwi the 3rd, Shim the 4th, Lee Joo-young the 5th, and Park Won-kyu the 6th course.
As the race began, the competitors raced toward the first turn mark, with Kim Wan-seok expected to take the early lead from the inside course.
However, he struggled at the start and lost momentum during the turn, falling behind in the lead competition.
Seizing the opportunity, Shim executed a bold maneuver from the 4th course, taking control of the lead. He maintained a steady pace, preventing any challengers from catching up and securing the victory.
This win was a significant achievement for Shim, who faced a challenging path from the preliminaries to the final.
In the first preliminary round, despite being assigned the 1st course, he finished 2nd behind Kim Wan-seok's strong maneuver, leading to his assignment of the 4th course in the final. However, he demonstrated his seasoned race management skills with a bold choice at a critical moment.
After a series of disappointing results in recent finals, this victory reaffirms Shim's competitiveness on the big stage. It also marks his first win of the season in a major race.
Lee Joo-young performed well, finishing 2nd in the final after placing 3rd in the second preliminary round, while Park Won-kyu overcame the challenges of the 6th course to finish 3rd, continuing his strong performance this season.
Shim Sang-cheol expressed his joy after the victory, stating, "I am happy to win, especially under the difficult conditions of the 4th course. Park Won-kyu from the 6th course had a good start and attempted a maneuver, but my quicker response with the steering was effective."
He added, "I will strive to leverage this victory in the Kurihara Cup and Grand Prix to achieve further success."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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